Dust allaying means for continuous mining apparatus



June 5, 1956 Original Filed July 5, 1949 J. R. SIBLEY DUST ALLAYING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DUST ALLAYING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS Original Filed July 5, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 224 CO5 6 g/ C93 [Zwemlaff y izn fi 522269.

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DUST ALLAYING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUS MINING APPARATUS John R. Sibley, Franklin, Pa., assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Penn- Sylvania original application July s, 1949, serial No. 102,996. Di-

;lfldsegtnd this. application March 14, 1951, Serial No. .I

10 Claims. (Cl. 262-29) f This Ainvention relates to mining apparatus and more particularly to dust allaying means especially adapted for use with the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism of a continuous mining apparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved continuous mining apparatus for dislodging mineral from a solid mine vein. Another object is to provide an improved dust allaying means for such an apparatus. Yet another object is to provide an improved dust allaying means associated with the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism of a continuous miner whereby a liquid spray is applied directly to the face of a mine vein in the zoner of action of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism during the mineral dislodging operation. These and .other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

This application is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 102,996, filed July 5, 1949.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes ,of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in central longitudinal vertical section taken through the forward portion of a continuous miner in which a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention is incorporated.

'Fig 2 is an enlarged cross section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. l, illustrating a portion of the attacking and disintegrating mechanism.v Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l and illustrating a portion of the improved liquid spray nozzle arrangement.

The continuous mining apparatus. with which the'improved dust allaying means is associated, may be generally similarto that disclosed in the copending application to Harold F. Silver, Serial No. 11,688, led Feb. 27, 1948, or the copen'ding application to John D. Russell, Serial No. 102,995, -iiled July 5, 1948, both owned by the assignee otv the present invention. Evidently, however, various features of the invention may be associated with mining apparatus of other types.

As shown in the drawings, the continuous mining apparatus generally comprises a mobile base 1 adapted to travel over the oor of a mine and having a frame 2 which has swiveled thereon to turn about an upright axis with respect thereto, a horizontal turntable 3. The turntable has4 a horizontal frame portion 4 projecting forwardly in advance of the base and guided on this horizontal frame portion for movement rectilinearly relative thereto in a radial' direction relative to the swiveled axis of the turntable is a sliding frame or support 5 on which a swingable frame or bar structure 6 of a vein-attacking and disinte- 'grating mechanism or so called digging head generally designated-'lis pivotally mounted to swing in a vertical plane with respect thereto and to vswing horizontally with the turntable 3 relative to the base frame. The attacking and disintegrating mechanism extends forwardly in advance ofthefb'ase and comprises a series of endless disintegrating United States PatentO P ice 2 chains 8 guided along parallel guideways 9 on the swingable frame for circulation in vertical orbital paths, and each chain comprises a series of chain blocks 10 pivotally connected by hinge pins 11 to intermediate strap links 12. The chain blocks have lateral gibs 13 slidingly received in the guideways 9, and projecting laterally from the blocks in staggered relation are lugs 14 which have sockets for receiving disintegrating elements or teeth 15, the latter held in position on the lugs by conventional set screws 16. The vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 7, when sumped into the mine vein and swung in a vertical plane, acts to detach and disintegrate the mineral in vertical seg# ments from the mine vein, and the disintegrating chains 8 tear the mineral in relatively large fragments from the mine vein and the dislodged mineral is carried rearwardly from the face by the top runs of the chains and is discharged onto an endless conveyor 17. This endless conveyor is guided for circulation on the sliding frame 5 and extends forwardly and downwardly beneath the attacking and disintegrating mechanism, as shown in Fig. 1. A shovel 18 is mounted on the frame 5 also beneath the attacking and disintegrating mechanism and this shovel serves to gather loose mineral which has fallen to the mine oor and directs the material so gatheredonto the front end of the conveyor 17 The swingable trarne or bar structure 6 has an adjust'- able outer end portion or bar idler head 20 comprising parallel side plates 21, which, at their outer sides, desirably lie ilush with parallel side plates 22 of the rearward frame portion. The side plates of the adjustable outer ,end portion are provided at the sides thereof with rearward guides 23 received in longitudinal guiding slots 24 in the sides of the rearward side plates 22. The guides 23 have longitudinal slots v2S which are engaged by retaining blocks 26 secured to the forward ends of the rearward side plates 22. The adjustable front end portion has parallel tubular elements 27 secured to the adjustable outer end portion and slidingly received in parallel longitudinal tubular guides 28 secured to transverse plates 29 of the rearward frame portion. The tubular guides have parallel bores in which the guides 27 are slidingly received and the guides 27 have threaded portions 30 engagedwby adf justing screws 31, and the screws have annular collars 32 engaging inwardly directed, circular lianges 33 on the rearward ends of the tubular guides 23. The screws have polygonal portions 34 which are accessible through side openings 35 in the side plates 22 and are engageable by a suitable turning instrument, such as a wrench. Supported within end supports 36 secured to the side frames 21 of the bar idler head is a transverse shaft 37 which supports bearings 38 on which an elongated idler roller or rotary guide 39 is journaled. The endless disintegrating chains are guided by the idler roller 39 as they pass around the outer end of the swingable bar structure '6. Thus, by suitably adjusting the screws 31 the adjustable frame portion or bar idler head may be adjusted readily outwardlyalong its guides relative to the rear frame portion to vary the tension of the disintegrating chains.v

` The swingable bar structure 6 comprises parallel upper and lower transverse plates 41 and 42 rigidly held n spaced relation by a series of perpendicular transverse bracing plates 43 and the front plates 29. The transverse bracing plates may be welded to the upper and lower plates 41 and 42 to provide a rigid unitary structure. Detachably secured, as by bolts, to the outer surfaces of the upper and lower plates are outer plates 44v and 45, the latter being of substantially less length than Athe former, as shown in Fig. 1. There are herein preferably six chain guideways, and secured to the upper outer plate 44 are parallel, longitudinally extending guide plates 46. Secured to the outer bottom plate 45 are bottom guide plates' 47 Vwhich are spaced from the bottom plate by wedge-shaped strips 48. These guide plates and strips are secured to the outer plates by bolts 49 passing through the frame structure. These guide plates and strips cooperate to provide the guideways for the gibs of the chain blocks of the chains, and the wedge-shaped strips provide tapered bottom guideways having wide rear mouths for receiving the gibs on the bottom runs of the chain. The disintegrating chains are driven by a series of chain sprockets 50 which are keyed to a transverse drive shaft 51 arranged coaxial with the frame pivot, and this shaft is driven in a manner fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 102,996, referred to above. As the disintegrating chains move forwardly from beneath these sprockets, the gibs on the chain blocks enter the widened mouths of the tapered, lower guides to direct the lower chain runs forwardly and upwardly toward the bar frame so that undue sagging of the lower chain runs is prevented. The side frames 21 `and 22 of the swingable bar structure have upstanding side portions 52 and 53 which serve to retain the disintegrated mineral in the paths of the chains.

For swinging the attacking and disintegrating mechanism in a vertical plane, conventional hydraulic cylinders 54 are arranged at the outer sides of the shovel 18 on the sliding frame 5 and these cylinders contain reciprocable pistons (not shown) which are connected to the lower ends of depending arms 55 secured to the outer sides of the swingable frame structure 6, and When liquid under pressure is supplied to these cylinders, the pistons are moved forwardly to swing the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism upwardly about its pivot. By trapping liquid in the cylinders the frame structure may be locked in adjusted position, and upon appropriate venting of liquid from the cylinders, the frame structure may be permitted to swing downwardly about its pivot by gravity at a controlled rate. This swinging mechanism is likewise fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 102,996 mentioned above.

As the veinattacking and disintegrating mechanism 7 is operated to effect dislodgement of the mineral from the mine vein, a dust allaying uid, such as water, may be sprayed in the vinicity of the zone of action of the disintegrating chains to reduce the dust hazard. Herein, there is shown a spray uid conducting means comprising a pipe 55 (Fig. 1) supplied in any suitable manner with tluid under pressure and extending longitudinally within the swinging frame or bar structure 6 on which the disintegrating chains are guided, and this pipe communicates with a transverse chamber S6 formed in `the adjusting bar idler head at the outer end of the bar structure 6. The water chamber 56 is connected through relatively restricted passages 57, with laterally spaced recesses 58 formed in the outer portion of the idler frame between the chain guideways, as shown in Fig. 3. The transverse chamber 56 is of substantial length and extends transversely of the bar structure inwardly of the idler roller 39 and the passages 57 communicate with the transverse chamber 56 at spaced points along its length so that liquid may flow from the chamber to all of the recesses 58. Each of the recesses 58 has spaced nozzles 59, 60 and 61, of any suitable design, communieating therewith at spaced points along the length thereof `and through which water under pressure may be sprayed in a fanlike fashion outwardly between the parallel disintegrating chains to allay the dust created by the disintegrating elements during the dislodging and disintegrating operation. With the disintegrator mechanism in the horizontal position shown in Fig. l, nozzles 59 direct their jets substantially upward; nozzles 60 are disposed to direct their jets upward and forward, the upward component being the greater; and nozzles 61 are disposed to direct their jets forward and downward, the forward component being the greater. By arranging the water spray nozzles intermediate the parallel paths of orbital movement of the disintegrating elements at the outer portion of the bar structure 6 the liquid spray which is discharged in jets from the nozzles is applied directly to the face of the mine vein in the vicinity of the zone of action of the disintegrating elements so that the dust created by the disintegrating elements is allayed substantially -as soon as it is created. By arranging the water supply chambers within the adjustable outer portion of the frame structure exteriorly of the idler roll 39 it is possible to adjust the tension of the disintegrating chains without in any manner disturbing the dust allaying means.

The manner of use of the continuous mining apparatus is fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 102,996, above referred to, and during the sumping, swinging and withdrawing operations of the vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism 7, spray water is delivered through the water pipe to the water chamber 56, and is conducted through the restricted passagewsys 57 and recesses 58 to the spray nozzles 59, 60 and 6l, through which the water is sprayed on the face of the mine vein in the vicinity of the zone of action of the disintegrating chains. By discharging the spray water outwardly between the rows of orbitally moving disintegrating elements of the disintegrating chains directly within the recess formed in the mineral by the disintegrating chains, the dust is effectively allayed. Other manners of use and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specicaly described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or thefscope of the appended claims. t

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a continuous miner comprising a swingable veinattacking and disintegrating mechanism and having an outer end portion and an idler roll rotatably supported by the outer end portion, a plurality of spaced apart parallel disintegrator chains arranged to move in orbital paths including arcuate movement about the outer end portion in guided relation to the idler roll, the improvement oomprising conduit means for a dust allaying agent connected to the end portion, a tluid receiving chamber in the end portion inwardly of the idler roll and in communication with said conduit means, a plurality of spray jet nonles in the end portion in the spaces between the chains, and means arranged externally of the idler roll forming a series of fluid passages in the end portion in parallel relation between the chains at spaced points along the length of the idler roll and with which said nonies communicate, said passages connecting the nozzles with said f receiving chamber, said passages having outer portions extending arcuately near the periphery of the roll and extending outwardly along the outer side of the roll, said arcuate portions of said passages having the same curvature as the roll periphery, said noules discharging a dust allaying spray outwardly between the chains.

2. A continuous miner as set forth in claim l wherein said passagefformingmeans includes curved guides which extend closely along the roll at the outer side of the rollperiphery and along which guides said chains travel, and said arcuate passages are formed in said curved guides and said nozzles are attached to said guides.

3. In a continuous miner comprising a swingable veinattacking and disintegrating mechanism and having an outer end portion and an idler roll rotatably supported by said end portion, a plurality of parallel distintegrator chains arranged to move in orbital paths including arcuate movement about said end portion in guided relation to said roll, the improvement comprising conduit means for a dust allaying agent connected to the end portion, a ud of the roll and in communication with said conduit means,

a plurality of spray jet nozzles in the end portion in the spaces between Vthe chains, and means providing aseries of fluid passages in the end portion with said passages disposed outward of the idler roll between the chains and with which said nozzles communicate, said passages connecting the nozzles with the receiving chamber, said passages'having outer portions extending arcuately near the periphery of said roll about the latter and having the same curvature as the roll periphery, said outer portions of said passages extending to the outer side of the roll, a plurality of said nozzles communicating with each of said arcuate passages at spaced points along the length of the passages, and said nozzles discharging a dust allaying spray outwardly between the chains.

4. A continuous miner as set forth in claim 3 wherein said passage-providing-means includes guides between said chains and by which the chains are guided as they travel about the roll, said passages being formed in said guides respectively.

5. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism including a frame structure pivoted for swinging movement and having parallel longitudinal guideways, parallel endless disintegrating chains guided in the guideways for circulation in orbital paths, and dust allaying means associated with the vein-attacking and -disintegrating mechanism including a series of recesses arranged at the outer portion of the frame structure intermediate the guideways, the outer end of the frame structure being curved and said frame structure having parallel curved guide portions spaced apart transversely of said frame structure intermediate said parallel guideways and disposed between said disintegrating chains, the chains traveling in their orbits along said curved guide portions, said recesses being formed in said guide portions respectively and having a curvature similar to the curvature of said curved guide portions and lying near the curved outer end of said frame structure exteriorly thereof, means for conducting liquid under pressure to said spaced recesses, and a series of spray jet passages communicating with each curved recess at spaced points along the length thereof and through which the liquid is discharged in a fanlike fashion outwardly between the disintegrating chains.

6. In a mining apparatus, the combination comprising vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism including a frame structure pivoted for swinging movement and having parallel longitudinal guideways provided with curved outer end portions, parallel endless disintegrating chains guided in the guideways for circulation in orbital paths and passing around the curved outer end portion, and dust allaying means associated with the veinattacking and disintegrating mechanism including an elongated chamber extending transversely of the frame structure and spaced inwardly from the outer end portion of the frame structure, means for conducting liquid under pressure to said chamber, a series of recesses arcuately arranged at the outer end portion of the frame structure intermediate the guideways and of a similar curvature to that of said curved guideway portions and lying near the latter exteriorly thereof, said recesses each having passage means providing restricted communication with said chamber, with said passage means spaced at intervals along the length of said chamber, said frame structure at its curved end portion having parallel portions spaced apart transversely of said frame structure, said parallel portions -disposed in the spaces between the chains intermediate said parallel guideways, said recesses being formed in said parallel portions and having their outer portions extending arcuately at the curved outer end portion of the frame structure and extending outwardly about the end portion, said outer portions of said recesses having the same curvature as said curved guideway portions, and a series of spray jet passages communicating with each recess at spaced points along the length thereof and through which the liquid is discharged in a fanlike fashion outwardly between the disintegrating chains.

7. In a continuous miner, a rswingable vein-attacking and disintegrating mechanism having a curved outer end portion and rotary guide means supported by the outer end portion andaplurality of parallel rows of disintegrating elements arranged to movein orbital paths in guided relation to said rotary guide means, the improvement comprising conduit means for a dust allaying agent connected to the outer end portion, an agent-receiving chamber in the end portion and in communication with said conduit means, a plurality of spray jet nozzles in the end portion between said orbitally movable disintegrating elements, and means arranged externally of said rotary guide means and forming a series of parallel longitudinal liuid passages in the outer end portion in the spaces between said disintegrating elements and connecting said nozzles with said receiving chamber, said uid passages having outer portions extending arcuately near the periphery of said rotary guide means outwardly to the forward side of the latter and having the same curvature as the periphery of said rotary guide means, several of said nozzles communicating with each longitudinal passage at spaced points along the length of the latter.

8. In combination, a guide bar having a curved outer end portion, a guide roll journaled at said outer end portion of said bar, said bar providing parallel guideways including parallel guide portions extending arcuately about said guide roll at said curved outer end portion of said bar, orbitally movable disintegrating elements guided for movement along said guideways, said parallel guide portions cooperating to guide said disintegrating elements about said guide roll at said curved outed end portion of said bar, said parallel guide portions extending arcuately near the periphery of said roll exteriorly of the latter at the outer portion of said roll and the inner surfaces of sai-d guide portions having the same curvature as said roll periphery, said guide portions spaced apart in parallelism llongitudinally of said roll, and means for supplying spray liquid to the work to allay the dust during the disintegrating operation including arcuate passages formed in said arcuate guide portions .intermediate said orbitally movable elements and having the same curvature as said curved outer end portion, means for supplying liquid under pressure to said arcuate passages, and a series of spaced apart discharge nozzles communicating with each of said arcuate passages at spaced points along the length thereof for discharging liquid sprays outwardly between said disintegrating elements, said guide roll being journaled at said outer end portion of said bar outwardly of said means of supplying liquid under pressure to said arcuate passages.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said bar has an outwardly facing concave surface lying close to the roll periphery at the inner side of said roll and said parallel guide portions have inner curved surfaces lying close to the outer side of the roll periphery and cooperating with said concave surface substantially to surround said roll.

l0. 'Ihe combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said liquid supply means includes a transverse liquid containing chamber disposed inwardly of said concave surface and with which said arcuate passages communi- Icate, and a series of passageways for-connecting said chamber with the rearward ends of said arcuate passages, said passageways communicating with said chamber at spaced points along the length of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS (Other references on following page) 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 1,428,634 Holmes Sept. 12, 1922 424,356 Grcat Britain Q Fcb. 20, 1935 1,503,870 Ball Aug. 5, 1924 559,380 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1944 1,508,634 Wilson Sept. 16, 1924 2,194,474 Joy Mar. 26, 1940 5 OTHER IEFFRENC? Transactions of the Instltutlon of Mlnmg Engineering.

2,216,177 Arentzen Oct. 1, 1940 2,287,230 Camicia June 23I 1942 V01. XCIX, pages 226-241, especially pages 227 and 230. 

